Accounting for Change in Diverse Societies - Global Centre for Pluralism

Accounting for Change in Diverse Societies is a new publication series from the Global Centre for Pluralism focused on six world regions. Each “change case” examines a specific moment when a county altered its approach to diversity, either expanding or eroding the foundations of inclusive citizenship. The series also features thematic overviews by leading global scholars. The series aims to build global understanding of the sources of inclusion and exclusion in diverse societies and the pathways to pluralism. This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, based in Ottawa, Canada. Read the papers at the links below.

The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of IDRC or its Board of Governors. This analysis was commissioned by the Global Centre for Pluralism to generate global dialogue about the drivers of pluralism. The specific views expressed herein are those of the author.

Change Cases

Bolivia

Bret Gustafson traces past and present struggles over exclusion and inclusion in Bolivia.

Brazil

Daniela Ikawa writes about building pluralism through affirmative action in Brazil.

Colombia

Virginie Laurent presents Colombia’s constitutional reform process as an example of a changed conversation about diversity.

Côte d’Ivoire

Abu Bah discusses Côte d’Ivoire’s democratic transition and the dangers of weak institutions.

France

John Bowen examines French republicanism and how it could be more pluralistic.

Germany

Jan Dobbernack explores the public conversation in Germany about expanding access to citizenship.

Ghana

Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi and Mohammed Awal examine factors shaping Ghana’s inclusive society.

India

Rochana Bajpai discusses the lessons from India’s efforts to incorporate difference into the country’s identity.

Malaysia

Hwok-Aun Lee writes about majority affirmative action in Malaysia.

Nigeria

Daniel Agbiboa writes about federalism and group-based inequalities in Nigeria.

Singapore

Daniel Goh examines Singapore’s institutional commitment to multiculturalism.

Spain

Francisco Colom writes about Spain’s democratic transition and the implications for pluralism.

Sri Lanka

Neil DeVotta examines majoritarian politics in Sri Lanka and the roots of pluralism breakdown.

Thematic Overviews

Horizontal Inequalities

Frances Stewart writes about group-based inequalities and the barriers to pluralism.

Hardware and Software

Will Kymlicka writes about the hardware and software of pluralism.

Institutions

Jane Jenson writes about the institutional foundations of pluralism.

Secularism

Niraja Jayal discusses pluralism as a strategy for managing diversity.

Constitutions

Christina Murray writes about constitutions as frameworks for pluralism.

Democratization

Rotimi Suberu considers the advancement of pluralism through various approaches to democracy.